"The Interastral Peace Corporation commands the largest population in the known universe—and with it, the largest military. Our weaponry, logistics, and industrial capacity are unparalleled. Engaging the Xianzhou is not only possible—it is inevitable."
Oswaldo's face was flushed, his eyes wide with fervor. He spoke not as a corporate executive, but as a zealot laying out a divine mandate—breathless, spraying spittle, like an explorer who had finally sighted new shores.
"Moreover, thanks to our allies in the Family—and Dr. Chadwick, who now fully complies with their directives—we have acquired a weapon of unparalleled power: the Imaginary Collapse Pulse. A single discharge can crack a planet."
He leaned forward, voice dropping to a conspiratorial rasp.
"Now imagine not one, but thousands—tens of thousands—of these weapons firing in unison. That level of concentrated energy would rival the output of certain lesser Emanators. With such power at our disposal… how could we possibly fail?"
He's mad. Completely, utterly mad.
Topaz clenched her jaw, mind racing. War with the Xianzhou Alliance? Not on moral grounds—on practical ones. Did they truly believe the Alliance's Emanators—and the Aeon behind them—were merely decorative?
"Ah, Miss Topaz. I can see the question forming in your eyes. 'What of the Alliance's Emanators? What of the Hunt itself?'"
Oswaldo spread his hands, a theatrical, almost avian gesture.
"You are correct. We cannot confront the full might of the Xianzhou Alliance head-on. Not even with our new weapons. Which is precisely why…"
He paused, letting the silence sharpen.
"…we will not fight the Alliance. We will strike one ship: the Luofu Xianzhou."
Topaz felt the air grow cold.
"The bonds between the Xianzhou vessels are not as unbreakable as they appear. Communications are slow-sometimes taking months. Mutual aid is cumbersome, bureaucratic. There are… gaps."
Oswaldo's smile was razor-thin.
"We will jam the Luofu's signals. Isolate it. Then, we concentrate our entire force overwhelming, localized, decisive. By the time the other ships realize what has happened, it will be too late. And should certain influential voices within the Alliance prove… receptive to generous donations… well. Cooperation can be incentivized."
He waved a dismissive hand.
"As for the Aeon of the Hunt—only the Yuque Xianzhou retains the ritual capacity to summon its attention. If Yuque remains unaware, the Hunt remains distant. And we will ensure it remains unaware."
Topaz stood frozen. Every objection she prepared melted under the chilling coherence of his plan. This was no drunken fantasy—it was a blueprint, validated by data, endorsed by the Board. The document before her was real. The signatures were real.
They're serious. The entire Board is serious.
"Why the Luofu?" she finally managed, voice unsteady.
"Because it is the weakest." Oswaldo's reply was swift, clinical. "Reports from the Intelligentsia Guild confirm it. The Luofu possesses no hidden super-weapons, no celestial defenses, no legacy constructs. Its wars have bled it dry. The Abundance conflict, the Imbibitor Lunae crisis—it has never recovered."
He leaned closer, his tone almost intimate.
"Its leadership is aged. Its general is a relic, clinging to power long after his prime. They produce no new talent. They rely on a handful of centuries-old veterans just to maintain the status quo. In a real fight? They will shatter."
Topaz's breath caught. "How can you be so sure?"
"Because of you, Miss Topaz."
He smiled—a predator's smile.
"The report you filed for Diamond. I reviewed it. Every detail you provided about the Luofu's infrastructure, its defensive gaps, its political fractures… it aligned perfectly with our intelligence. You were the final piece of the puzzle. Your report is what convinced the Board to reassign Diamond and greenlight this operation."
The world seemed to tilt.
Topaz's vision blurred, a high-pitched ring filling her ears.
It was me. I gave them the key.
"This is insanity!" she choked out, legs trembling beneath her. "The Corporation cannot—must not—go to war! Not with the Xianzhou, not with anyone! What of the Amber Lord's will? What of the billions who will suffer?"
Oswaldo regarded her with something akin to pity.
"The Amber Lord deals in value. Coin is spent to earn greater coin. Lives are but currency. And sometimes…" he said softly, "…to preserve greater value, smaller denominations must be… retired."
He straightened, the fanaticism gone, replaced by the cool demeanor of a businessman closing a deal.
"The decision is made, Miss Topaz. The Luofu will fall. And you… you have already played your part."
-------
A/n: Hey over on my patreon there are currently two for the time being exclusive books which are
Zenless Zone Zero: Loving Daily Life Starting in New Eridu
Honkai Impact 3rd, I Can Transform into a Valkyrie!
patreon.com/deadlygoober